The Bistro at Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat in Isle of Wight

Lovely! We ordered takeaway from here while staying at the Woodside Bay retreat and it was perfect. Arrived in 15 minutes and it was so tasty! We also stopped for a few drinks in the Bistro Bar on our final night which was lovely. The staff were so friendly and welcoming.

Absolute rubbish, it was closed 4 days out of 7 that we were on holiday, no food no refreshments, no apology, no explanation, and guess what we won’t return. Poor Poor Poor.

Arrive at 6.45 and ask if they are still serving food. Yes, for collection or delivery to your lodge. Last orders at 7.45. Ok, we will get drinks and order food to take away. 10 minutes later at 6.55, when I go to order food. Sorry, the kitchen is too over whelmed. I can’t take your order. So now we have had alcohol, they aren’t serving food, there is no shop on site and take aways don’t deliver here. Hungry family of 5! Just be honest at the start. You don’t want to take food orders! Also, the menu says food can be ordered until 8pm and when we were finishing our drinks at 7, the bar staff start clearing away the seating. I think they just wanted to go home early.

We were recommended the 'Rosti Burger' and 'sausage, cranberry, brie pizza' from the specials menu and had them delivered straight to our door. They were piping hot (despite the driving rain) and absolutely delicious! Would order again from here on future visits

We dined at the recently re-opened Bistro and chose from their Christmas Menu and were offered a complimentary Mulled Wine to start. The food was excellent (we both went for the Turkey Roast option). This was followed by two lovely desserts. The staff were very attentive and friendly. We had a look at the a la carte menu which was quite varied and the prices all seemed very reasonable. We will definately be eating there again!

Food was very tasty and a good price. My only bad comment was with the dessert. I had mini doughnuts with chocolate sauce and ice cream, over half the doughnuts were rock hard and not edible.

Asked reception about having a meal and was advised to book. Menu was full of formula food with nothing to excite or stimulate. No specials. Nobody else dining so nor did we. They have a captive clientele so if they cannot get custom they must be really poor.

My husband and I had been on the road since 9:45am, we finally got to our accommodation at 17:30, all we wanted at this point was a nice hot meal. We went to the Bistro and stood at the bar waiting to be served for what felt like an eternity. When we were finally spoken to we asked if they had a table available in their clearly empty restaurant, they said they would have to check. Again we waited. A while after we were told we couldn’t get a table and they were only offering pizzas outside at their pizza oven. With little other choice we accepted and sat outside with a drink and waited. The night got colder and darker and we continued to wait. We chased our pizzas after 45mins and we were told they were next. Over an hour we finally got our pizzas and they were ok. Other customers also had to wait and some were told they had run out of dough, they couldn’t manage the small orders they had taken. We didn’t end up eating until nearly 9pm with all the waiting. It was long day made longer by not eating until late evening. It was frustrating that others were dining in the restaurant and we couldn’t, although we walked in when somebody was sending back their curry so maybe it was a saving grace. Poor service, poor attitude.

very good steak and home made lasagne. staff very good and friendly. you need to book to eat here though

We ate here on the first Sunday of our holiday and chose the Sunday roast for my wife, our daughter and myself. Despite their being friendly enough staff around, the standard of the food was extremely low. The roast chicken was just a chopped up chicken breast, the pork was cold and just awful, veg unrecognisable, gravy cold and 'sticky', no condiments. This was reheated / microwaved food that does not warrant the prices charged. We didn't eat much of it and decided to eat back at our lodge in the end. Needless to say, we will not be going back to the Bistro...

We were staying here and decided to eat on our first night. There was live entertainment which was very pleasant. The view was very nice and you can watch the ships passing in the distance. The food was very nice, reasonably priced and good portions. Would definitely eat there again if we stayed there.

We visited the bistro on one of the nights of our stay at Woodside Lodge Retreat. It was a Sunday night and on arrival we were informed that the normal menu was not available and a Sunday roast menu was offered instead. This was fine with us, we had booked in advance and were quite surprised that we were the only diners in the restaurant, but pleased that our table was next to the window with nice views over the park and across the Solent. We ordered from the very limited menu (3 starters on the menu but only 2 available!), with a choice of roast, and nut roast veg option. Our meals arrived, and we were so disappointed, the meat was ok, the seasonal veg was a few overcooked carrots and parsnips, the roast potatoes were tasteless, but the worst thing about the meal was the extremely gloopy gravy, tasteless and thick, obviously gravy granules with not enough water added! Absolutely terrible. The nut roast was tasteless and just an unimaginative token vegetarian option. The waiting staff were obviously embarrassed at what they were serving up as they didn't make any eye contact while serving the food, or collecting the plates, and didn't ask if our meal was ok etc. We had intended to order dessert but after the poor quality of the main course, made a rapid exit! No wonder this restaurant has no customers, it doesn't even deservec1 star. I think they need to look for a new chef! If you are staying at the lodge resort, don't be drawn in by the nice setting, go elsewhere to eat out!

The food in here is simply the worst I have ever paid for. They have two fryers, one for veggies and the other for EVERYTHING ELSE. The chicken tasted of fish and the fish tasted far too fishy, ie. fish that is not the freshest!! Socking when we are less than a mile from a fishing port. We were the only table in the restaurant and I can see why. Please do not eat here, get a taxi into town. I feel sport for the waiting staff who I have to deal with all the the angry disappointed customer, it not their fault but the chef and the owners!!

With a modern and pleasant looking building, The Bistro at Woodside Bay is situated in a lovely wooded coastal location. We visited The Bistro last week for an evening meal having booked a table. On arrival we were told that our table wasn't ready and we would have to sit near the bar for an unspecified time - at this point a complimentary drink would have been nice, but wasn't offered. The girl serving was friendly and polite, but was rushed off her feet, explaining that her colleague had "gone somewhere" - so she had been left on her own to serve food, seat people and work behind the bar! We sat and waited for a long time, and appeared to be forgotten about - it was only when another member of staff arrived (again - friendly) and asked why we were sitting over in the corner, that we were eventually shown to a table, 20 - 25 minutes after our booking time. We ordered food and waited - we did expect the food to take a while as the couple on the table next were audibly complaining about the wait - they eventually gave up and went to the bar for a refund. Around 45 - 50 minutes later we were served a microwave-heated chilli and a very doughy pizza. The side order of fries were cold. In fairness, the food was reasonably priced, but certainly wasn't the "Impeccable Cuisine" that the website suggests! A shame, as the building and surroundings deserve a better dining experience.

A lovely choice of food, excellent service and not too pricey. Cake and tea/coffee available in the afternoon with a beautiful view.

One night we decided to try out the on site bistro restaurant as our previous experience in one of your restaurants was faultless however unfortunately just like the lodge this was the total opposite! We ordered a sharing platter to start which all of the contents looked like something you'd buy from the supermarket, it lacked any sort of flavour! At this point we weren't holding out for the mains to be any better and to no surprise they weren't any better. The lasagne looked like it had been overcooked and was extremely dry and the garlic bread that came with it should have just been called bread,the garlic was non-existent.

Wonder full view, great band, good service but limited menu. The woodfired pizza looked good a great first night venue after travelling.😊

Highly recommend! You are advised to book as the restaurant is not large (we did but others were turned away.)

Ate here with family this evening. There was a limited menu but the food itself was nice and the staff friendly. A convenient place to eat if staying in the Woodside Bay Retreat but better further afield. The restaurant lacked atmosphere and the menu could be more imaginative.

We have been to woodside a couple of times but first time we have tried restaurant,the food was good with good service so will visit again,

Super nice staff great food and service was very friendly and the food is great, thanks very much enjoyed it

We've stayed at Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat numerous times but never eaten in the onsite restaurant. We decided to try it on Sunday to save driving to a pub. What a mistake. It was empty which perhaps speaks for itself! The limited food choice is obviously pre-prepared and microwaved! The meals arrived Luke warm. I spoke to the server and she removed our dinners. They returned 2 minutes later steaming from a fresh blast in the microwave! Soggy Yorkshire pudding, fatty beef, horrible potatoes. So left most of it. We then felt rushed as the tables around us were being cleaned and the bill was plonked down without asking if we wanted coffee. I knew they couldn't wait get rid of us(at 9pm!)as I went back 2 minutes later to buy something else to eat from the shop and the place was closed. Speedy getaway!

Staying on the resort and eating most nights in the restaurant. Clean well presented establishment, large drinks variety, Good menu and friendly staff.

We visited the restaurant a couple of times whilst staying on the site. Both times we opted for the pizzas which were probably some of the nicest I have had for a long time. Freshly prepared with nasty toppings on a lovely thin base they were were more than sufficient to fill you up. The menu, whilst not extensive, was varied and reasonably priced. Well worth giving it a try.

Average but nice enough food. Short wait for our food and the service was friendly. We were staying at the retreat so was lovely to not have to cook or drive.

This restaurant is located at Woodside Costal Retreat, we visited whilst on holiday at the retreat for an evening off cooking and washing up(as the dishwasher in our cabin has been broken now since Sunday - 5 days!) The staff at this restaurant are disinterested at best, and were outright rude when speaking to my husband. When entering the restaurant we asked for a table for 2 (there were 2 other couples already seated) The supervisor asked if we had booked, we said we hadn't. He then stated that you have to book in advance and you would have been told by reception. We said we hadn't been informed. And his response was "yes you were" in a particularly arrogant manner. We are not naughty school children and expect to be treated as adults! I note that it doesn't say anywhere in the restaurant you need to pre book, nor in the welcome information in the cabin!I honestly think the staff wanted to finish early that evening. The food was ok, the veg arrived cold and had to be microwaved warm. Finally we had a problem with the coffees we ordered - which weren't what we wanted (waitress couldn't wait to leave the table so we couldn't clarify). A very milky coffee arrived which I couldn't drink, my husband took it back the the bar where the supervisor told him it had no milk in and was unwilling to listen or make a new coffee. Customer service is appalling. Save your money, there are lovely pubs in the area which do far better meals for better value and the staff value custom. (Try the Woodsmans Arms)

I decided to eat our here while staying at the Woodside Bay Retreat. It has to be noted that this was in late march and therefore it might not have put the restaurant in the best light. Despite being advised to book, myself and my partner were the only people in the restaurant.The restaurant itself is nicely laid out with a fire place (which wasn't lit) in the middle of the restaurant/seating area. Staff were pleasant and quick to get our orders - though we were the only ones in there!However, despite being the only ones there, my starter came out slightly burnt which was disappointing. The main dish and the remainder of the meal were both of a good standard.I probably wouldn't eat here again as there wasn't much atmosphere and due to it being out of season we had to be out by 9 - something we were not aware of initially but my own fault - should have read the sign on the door! Plus I thought it was a little expensive for what we got.Also, warning to any vegetarians - the options are limited. I think I had the choice of a vegie type burger, some other dish and a fish dish!